Lubricating means



Aug. 9, 1932. D. G. ADAMS LUBRICATING MEANS- Filed April 11. 1929 Lava. 5N NN N R md. Nm..

uw ,u N ww ATTORNEYS Patented ug. 9, '1932 .UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcraY DANIEL G. ADAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ADAMS GREASE GUN CORPORA- i TION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F NEW YORK LUBRICATING MEANS Application mea april 11,

This invention relates to grease guns, and particularly to an improved one-hand gun, the object being to provide a construction which is highly ecient and which may be ap lied and actuated by one hand..

nother object of the invention 1s to provide a grease gun or lubricating means for automobiles or other 'machiner wherein means are provided not onlyA or forcing grease to the desired part, but for engaging a coupling for holding the grease-carrying portion in position while the actuating means functions.

A further object, more specifically, 1s to provide a lubricating neans which includesl a gun with a hand-propelled piston or plunger and means for automatically feeding grease to a position in front of the plunger upon each withdrawal of the plunger.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a side -view of a grease gun dis- Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through Figure` 1, the same being shown on an enlarged scale; l

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the respective ends broken away andthe piston in an operated position;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view -through Figure 3 on the line 4-4;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a holding plate and associated parts embodying certain features of the invention;

,Figure 6 is a perspective view ofthe clutch plate shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a view similar to the left-hand part of Figure 2 but disclosing a modified construction.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a gun, 2 la coupling,

and 3 a handle connected to the rod 4. These members all make up the lubricating means and may be used with different forms of coupling members, as for instance, thecoupling member 5 or coupling member 6, or those `1929. Serial No. 354,367.

6. When the devicev is to be used it is placed Y' on the coupling member, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and then the handle 3 is moved back and forth, whereby grease will be forced from 4 -gun 1 .into -the coupling member and thence to the part to be lubricated. The coupling members 5 and 6 may be of a type shown in my co-pending application or any other desired type, provided they are supplied with pins or other means which may coact with the coupler 2. The coupler 2 is preferably screwed onto the neck 8 of the gun 1, as shown in Figure 2, whereby it may be applied or -removed at any time. Neck 8 interiorly is -provided with a bore 9 which acts as a high pressure chamber or cylinder and is adapted to receive grease at one time and closing an embodiment of the lnvention;

the piston at another time, as show-n in Figure 3. The ball valve 11 normally closes the outlet to the chamber 9, said ball being normally maintained seated by the spring 12 resting on the shoulder 13. Adjacent the shoulder 13 is a passageway 14 having abev- .eled portion 15 and a juncture 16 between these two portions -forming a dirt-cutting edge against which the beveled or tapered part 17 of the coupling member 5` presses. This dirt-cutting edge is important, in that it provides a good seal, notwithstanding the fact that the grease is forced into the coupling member 5 under high pressure, as for be termed the compression chamber 20 and'V construction is identical with that shown in FigureV 2.

In order that the grease may be forced intermittently past valve 11- into what may l thence through the coupler member 5, plunger 10 is intermittently forced into the chamber 9 where it has a rather snug, sliding fit,

as shown in Figure 3. As the plunger enters A the chamber 9 the grease forces valve 11 off its seat and then the added inflow of grease results in some of tllegrease flowing into and `stroke of the piston.

through the coupler member 5 to the article to be lubricated. As soon as the piston has completed its full stroke and starts on its return stroke spring 12 will cau'se valve 11 to immediately close so that the pressure is maintained in chamber 2O ready for the next Asthe piston leaves the chamber 9 a certain amount of vacuum or rarefaction is formed, whereby the grease is sucked into the chamber ready for a second action of the plunger. This suction of the grease in the chamber is augmented by the action of spring 21 which'is under compression, as shown in Fig. 3, and which, therefore, causes the washers 22 to force the grease towards chamber 9. By reason of the action of spring 21 the grease is always under some slight pressure, and this pressure added to the vacuum o r rarefaction` caused by the removal Aof piston 10 will result in a quick refilling ofA chamber`9. In addition, spring 21 acts to return the piston rod 4 and handle 3 to an outer position ready to be forced in again by the hand of the operator. When thelubricating means is first applied to the coupler member 5 the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2. The' operator presses handle 3 inwardly until the stop 2,3-

strikes the end of member 24. f The pressure by the hand is then relieved and spring 21 acts to force the-handle 3 back to an outer position, so that the hand of the operator may again cause piston 10 to function. This back and forth motion is carried out until the article beinglubricated has received the desired amount of grease. The end 24 is provided With an air opening 25 so that the washers22 andassociated parts may properly act without yproducing any rarefaction or back pressure. In addition, a relief opening 26 is formed in the sleeve 27, whereby air may pass through the enlarged bore 26 along the rod 4 to equalize the air pressure yon both sides. This is very desirable when the device is being loaded or when the washers 2 and associated parts are being removed. From Figures 2 and 3 itzwill be seen that two washers'22 have been provided, but if desired, onewasher could beu'sed or more than two. vThese washers are preferably of leather, although they could be made from other "22 and a second metallic washer 29 on the opposite side, washer 29 -having a hub 30 which assists in holding the washer in place and causing a smoother back and forth movement. The sleeve 27 is providedwith an abutment or turned-up end 31, whereby the washers can not be forced ofi1 the sleeve but spring 21 acts to hold the same adjacent abutment 3l whenever possible. Also, the parts are formed so that as the grease is forced from the gun by a back and forth movement of piston 10 and associated parts, certain mechanism will be operated for gradually feeding the washers 22 and associated parts toward the chamber 9. This mechanism consists of a clutch 32 having an aperture 35 slightly larger than rod 4, said rod extending through said aperture, whereby when the clutch 32 is at an angle it will pinch the rod so that the washer and associatedparts cannot move toward handle 3, except to the extent permitted by spring 21,*as shown in Figure 3. This Vclutch permits sleeve 27 to slide toward chamber 9 but normally prevents the same from sliding toward handle 3. The' sleeve 27 at the end nearest chamber 9 is burred or turned up for forming the flange 31, while at the opposite end it is slightly reduced, so that the plate 3 4 may fit thereover. This end of the sleeve is also riveted or burred for clamping plate 34 in position. This plate, as shown .in Figure 5, is provided with a bore 35 which fits over the reduced part of sleeve 27 and with a turned-up post 36 merging into the extension 37 which limits the upward swinging movement of the clutch 32. Plate 34 is also provided with a turned-up portion 38 and on each side of this turned-up portion 38 are lposts 38 and 38". Each of these posts is provided with a turned-over end so that the extension 39 of clutch 32 is held in proper operative position, while the extension 39 projects beyond post 36, whereby it may be engaged by the hand and raised to a position against the portion 37 when it is desired to pull the follower back to a point near p in 42. A spring 41 is bent so as to fit over the end of extension 39 inside of the projection 38 and on top of the projection 39, as shown in Figure 2, whereby the clutch 32 is held normally rvin the position shown in Figure 2. When the rod 4 is forced inwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, spring 21 will be brought under tension and cause washers 22 to press against the grease while the piston 10 forces some'A of the grease past valve 1.1. On the return movement of rod 4 the suction or rarefaction in chamber 9 will draw some of. the grease into the lchamber and this action will hays a tendency to pull the follower a short distance toward the chamber 9. Each time the device operates this action is repeated, and consequently, the follower is always in engagement with the grease. On the return movement the pin 42 limits the movement ofthe rod 4, while on the power stroke the pin -42 limits the movement. Pin 23 will act to limit the inward movement of the rod in case pin 42 should become broken or fail to function for any cause.

In operation when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2, the gun is ready for use and is in engagement with. the coupling member 5. By forcing the handle 3 and rod 4 inwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 a certain quantity of grease will be forcedpast valve 11. As soon as this has been done pressure on handle 3 is released suiiicientlyv to permit the spring 21 to act, said spring having been brought under tension by the inward movement of sleeve 27. As the` rod 4 moves outwardly under the action of spring 21 grease will flow into chamber 9 under the action of the pressure ofspring 21 and under the action of the rarefaction produced in chamber 9. As soonas handle 3 has moved outwardly until stop 42 engages end 24 it is ready for a second operation. In this way the gun may be used with one hand and therefore may be used in many places where it is difficult to use two hands with some other form of gun. Also, by providing a comparatively small piston 10 and small chamber 9 a slight pressure exerted by the workman is suiiicient to force grease into the parts to be lubricated under very high pressure.

When the gun is first loaded usually one 0r more air pockets are formed. These air `pockets arequicklv eliminatedby reason of the vent through the bore 26 and the aperture 26. This air is forced out by the more or less constant pressure of the washers 22 against the grease under the action of spring 21. When the parts are in their full, inner position, as shown in Figure 3, the outlet 26 will be covered. but when the tension on spring 21 has been substantially relieved, opening 26 will be uncovered, as shown in Figure 2, and consequently 'air may freely pass therefrom. As the rod 4 reciprocates during the functioning of thepump the follower moves forward slowly intermittently,

said movement being caused by the displacement of the grease which results from the suction or rarefaction formed in the chamberv 9. By forming the parts in this manner a very high pressure may be given to the grease which is ejected and the air pockets may be quickly and automatically removed while the follower continually functions to remain in Contact with "the grease and provide a pressure thereon from time to time with the action ofspring 21.

What I claim is f 1. A-lubricating means, including a onehand grease gun and a pair of couplers coacting therewith, one coupler being adapted to be permanently connected with the means to be lubricated and the other removably connected with the gum-the first-mentioned coupler having pins and the second-mentioned coupler having slots for receiving the pins, whereby the gun is held in proper alignment, said couplers having interengagmg portions including a dirt-cutting sealing edge, whereby grease under high pressure can only pass into the coupler connected with the means to be lubricated. 2. A lubricating means, including a grease gun structure formed with a casing, a discharge nozzle connected with the casing, said nozzle being formed with an ejecting chamber, a piston positioned to move into and out of the chamber, a rodeXtendingfrom-thc A piston through the end of the casing opposite the nozzle, a handle carried by said rod, whereby the rod may be forced inwardly by one hand so as to cause the'piston to function,

and a follower carried by the rod,A said folpler, said .gun structure including means forming an ejecting cylinder, a piston coacting with said cylinder, arod extending from said piston, a casing connected at one end with the means forming said chamber, and a follower carried by said rod positioned within said casing, said follower being formed with a sleeve slidably mounted on said rod, a

washer slidably mounted on said sleeve and.

engaging said casing at its periphery, a clutch carried by said sleeve adapted to clutch said rod, and a spring acting on one end of the sleeve and on the washer for resiliently holding the washer in such a position as to maintain the grease in the casing under pressure and also to return said rod toa retracted position when released.

4. A lubricating means, including a grease gun formed with a casing, a rod extending into the casing, a piston carried by the rod positioned to eject grease from the casing when the rod is moved in one direction, a sleeve slidably mounted on the rod, said sleeve being provided with a turned-up end and with a pair of arms, a swinging clutch carried by one of said arms, said clutch extending to a position opposite the other arm, a spring acting to normally hold the clutch in one position so as to pinch said rod, and means coacting with said clutch for maintaining the grease in the casing under pressure. 5. A lubricating means, including a grease gun formedwith a casing an operating rod and a follower in said casing slidably mountedon said rod, said follower being formed with a sleeve having an aperture therein, a. washer slidably mounted on the sleeve and normally positioned between the aperture and the endkof the sleeve, a spring acting on the sleeve and on the washer for resiliently holding the same adjacent the end of the sleeve, and a clutch carried by the sleeve at the end opposite the washer, said clutch functioning to grip said rod when the follower attempts to move in one direction and tol unclutch when the follower attempts to move in the opposite direction.

6. A lubricating means, including a having a casing adapted to receive a supply of grease an operating rod and a follower said casing slidably mounted on said rod, said yfollower including a spring-pressgd washer and a sleeve carrying said waslier, said sleeve I carrying a` pair of arms at one end, one of said arms being formed with a pair of posts, holding means extending 4from the respective posts, a clutch member formed with an exten'- sion projecting between said post s and resting on the arm, and a spring carried by said arm extendingbeneath said holding means and acting on the clutch to hold the same normally in a clutching position.

7 A lubricating means, including a gun having a casing adapted' to receive a supply of grease, a vdischarge'nozzle for said casing,

n chamber, a rod extending from said piston' a piston for ejecting grease -through said nozzle, a rod supporting said piston, said rod extending' through the casing at the opposite end to said nozzle, and a follower slidably mounted on. the rod, said follower including a clutch functioning to permit the follower to move in one direction of the rod and prevent the follower from moving ,in the opposite direction, said follower being also formed with a sleeve surrounding said rod, and a spring-pressed washer slidably mount.- ed on the sleeve,.said sleeve being formed with openings presenting a relief passageway extending normally from the pressure side of the washer to the opposite side for exhausting air trapped between the washend the grease in said casing. y

8. A lubricating means including a gun formed with a casing-merging into a nozzle having an ejecting chamber, a piston positioned to move into and out of said ejecting through the end of the gun, a handle carried e by said rod exteriorly of the casing of the gun,

and a follower mounted on said rod, said follower being formed to slidably fit the interior of said casing so that when said rod is moved compression chamber, and a clutch for clutching the follower to the rod, said clutch permitting said rod to be retracted at all times without rotation.

9. A lubricating means, including a gun formed with a casing, a discharge nozzle, a piston for forcing grease through the discharge nozzle, ,afrod extending from the pistonto a point exteriorly ofthe casing, where-y by tlie piston may beloperated, a springpressed follower carried by, said rod, a connection between said follower and rod for connecting the follower to tliewrod at any point along the rod on inward movement of the rod, said rod being movable outwardly yrelative to said follower at all times without rotation of the rod and a coupler connected with said'nozzle said coupler formed. with means for interlocking with part of the` article to be lubricated.

1'0. A lubricating means, including a gun formed with a casing merging into a nozzle having a compression cylinder, said casing being adapted to receive a supply of grease, a. rod extendin into said casing, said rod being formed with a piston adapted to move into said compression chamber forv forcing grease therefrom, and a spring and atmosphere pressed follower slidably mounted on said rod, a' clutch for clutching said follower to the rod and preventing accidental return movement of the follower, said spring.

surrounding said rod and acting on said rod and said follower for the double purpose ofV assisting in causing said follower to continually press the 'grease toward said compression cylinder and cause a retraction of.

said rod after each operation.-

11. A lubricating means, including a gun formed with a casing and a piston for eject- .ing grease from the casing, and l'a follower arranged in the casing for lmaintaining the grease under pressure, said follower includi'ng a sleeve, a slidingwasher carried by the sleeve, a spring acting at one end on the sleeve and at the other en`d on the washer for' resiliently holding the washer in a-given position, a rod for actuating said follower, said rod extending through said sleeve and washer, and a clutch actuated by said spring and carried by the sleeveand acting on said rod forjpreventing reverse movement of the sleeve.

12. Alubricating means inclu cant receptacle, a piston therein, a pistn rod for said piston, said rod having longiding a' lubrii tudinal movement relatively to said piston, and clutching or latching mechanism wholly within the receptacle and comprising a plate receiving ,the rod, means for holdlng said plate inclined with respect to the axis of the rod on inward movementJ of the rod, for clutching or latching the said rod against movementl relatively tothe piston on Said inward movement irrespective of the relative positions of said piston and rod and permitting movement oi the rod relatively to `thei piston on the reverse movement of the Signedat New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 8th day of April A. D., 1929. y

DANIEL G. ADAMS. 

